One of the sad facts of life is that all works of Man, including our beloved HVAC systems, eventually start to fall apart. One of the primary responsibilities of a homeowner or landlord is to ensure that their family or tenants are able to dwell comfortably in the building all year long, and that means keeping them cool in the summer and warm all winter long.
Another unfortunate truth is that HVAC repair and maintenance requires special expertise and equipment that most people just don't have. That is why we have HVAC repair specialists.
The real trick to saving yourself some money and getting a prompt appointment with HVAC services is to know when to make the call. If you wait until your system has already broken down, at the height of the warm or cold seasons, it could take days or weeks to get an appointment and cost you an arm and a leg once they get there. This seasonal guide will give you some tips on when to call the repairmen to keep your HVAC system running smooth and tight all year long.
Spring
The middle of spring is a good time to call an HVAC repair specialist to have them take a look at and perform some preventative maintenance on your air conditioning system. You won't have to wait forever for them to come by. Wait times during the height of summer, on the other hand, can be ridiculous, since everyone who didn't do their yearly maintenance is sweating and panicking, and a maintenance check will be cheaper than having a broken unit repaired. They will likely replace or clean filters, lube your motor, and check balance your refrigerant levels. These simple actions can prevent most of the major causes of AC failure.
Summer
Summer is to HVAC repair as December is to retail stores. Hopefully you performed your preventative maintenance in the springtime to head off the most common causes of air conditioner break down. If you find that your AC still stops working to your satisfaction, try some DIY tricks before calling for help, you will be waiting a while anyway. If you AC is running but not quite up to snuff, check your thermostat, change your filters, and remove any dust and debris from in and around the unit. Air conditioning units also have a tendency to “freeze up” on especially hot days when they are running their hardest. Sometimes just turning off the AC for a few hours allows them to return to a functioning operational temperature.
Fall
As summer comes to a close and the temperature starts to drop, now is the time have an HVAC specialist come out and inspect your furnace and heating system. The same principle applies here to heating as it did to cooling: beat the rush and try to prevent problems before they start. Furnaces, like any machine, require regular tune-ups. It is also a good time to make sure you have a stock of furnace filters, they usually go on sale at DIY stores around this time of year making it all the easier.
Winter
There are few things more uncomfortable, or more dangerous, than a home with no source of heat in the wintertime. Even after you have had your preventative maintenance, problems can still arise.
Luckily, many of the most common causes of heating loss are easily remedied without calling in the repairman. Check to make sure the thermostat is working correctly. You may also want to go check to make sure the pilot light is still on. If the heat is working but not adequately, make sure you change your filter and that all your floor registers are open to ensure circulation. If all else fails, call in a pro!
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